St. Seraphim is a beloved saint not only in his native Russia, but throughout the entire Orthodox world. He was an extremely devout priest-monk who lived during the 19th century, practicing extreme forms of asceticism and silence. Seraphim lived much of his life in solitude within the vast forests of Russia, and spent countless hours in deep prayer and fasting. He was often seen feeding the many animals of the forests his own meager food rations, and he even had a bear that would come to him like a well-trained pet! Because of his reputation as a “staretz” or “spiritual elder,” people routinely flocked from all over the country to Seraphim’s tiny cell for guidance and blessings, sometimes even traveling by foot for months on end. In 1903, one hundred years after this saintly monks death, Czar Nicholas II – himself now a saint of the Church – initiated the formal proceedings for Seraphim’s canonization.
St. Seraphim is known for the many miracles attributed to him, as well as for his famous sayings. Chief among these was also one of the most simple. For once, when the Holy Elder was asked how one could effectively spread the Christ’s Gospel unto others, Seraphim said, “Acquire the Holy Spirit yourself, and hundreds around you will be saved.”
